The Meta Code (Updated Sporadically)

『Chapter ❸❶』

I held my hand up hesitantly of knocking on Esparonza's door. I honestly didn't know what to expect. I wasn't even sure I should break my own rule of not entering a girl's room at all.

I looked around the clean - almost sterile smelling - hallway. There was a wide assortment of flowers in vases all across the hallway. Their fragrant smell filled every ounce of air in the hall.

"If you're going to stand there all day trying to knock you might as well as come in." Esparonza's voice was dampened by the door in between us.

I pushed my thumb into the scanner, and twisted the doorknob. "I don't like breaking my own rules Esparonza. This better be worth it."

I stood at the door looking in. In the near right corner was a slim metallic tablet with a apple on it, sitting on a small polished beetle kill pine nightstand. Next to that was a wardrobe made out of the same type of pine. On the right of that was a twin sized bed with drawers underneath it.

Next to the bed - in the center of the room - was a large window about 3 feet wide, by 6 feet tall. In the far left corner was a large leather couch facing towards me. Esparonza and another girl were sitting there chatting. In the corner directly to my left was a light switch, a thermostat control, and a TV.

Her floor was also beetle kill pine. It's vibrant polished blue-green streaks ran across the entire room. Her walls were bright white, and the ceiling was the same. The ceiling had a LED light in each corner and a fan in the middle.

"You don't have to just stand there like a predator." The girl next to Esparonza said.

I felt my head nod as I registered that she wasn't a Meta. Her energy signature was similar to normal humans, yet it was harder to detect. This disturbed me; as I only encountered this faintness in Esparonza.

The girl seemingly sat nonchalantly, but upon closer inspection both her brown and green eyes were scanning everything to the tiniest details. Her fiery red hair was shoulder length. Obviously it was that short as to not get in the way when she fights.

She wore a dark black cloak with crimson red highlights. It was very tight around her chest while the rest was baggy, and had plenty of hiding spaces for weapons. Her visible skin was ebony. She had black knee high combat boots with red laces.

"Esparonza, you sure he's not trained like us?" The girl whispered, leaning towards Esparonza.

I stifled a laugh. My powers allowed me to be able to sense energy, and apparently when ever someone talked it required a fair amount of energy. "Unless all you had was special Ops training then no."

"No, he doesn't." Esparonza looked at me as if she couldn't decide if she was impressed, or offended for the eavesdropping. "Hunter, this is Maya. She was... is my friend."

Slowly I said, "How is she able to be here? She obviously has no powers."

Quicker than I thought imaginable the blade of a dark steel katana was at my throat. "You're obviously not trained in subtleness. Nor are you nearly as trained as Esparonza and I."

I realized she didn't need any powers as she was impressively skilled. I allowed her to have her moment. My posture must've reflected my thoughts, because she glared menacingly into my eyes.

"Maya, that's enough." Esparonza seemed as relaxed as cat.

She hesitated before sliding her katana into a back mounted sheath. She then slowly crept her way back to the couch. Her eyes never once left mine, and as she sat down pointed at her eyes to me.

"So, this is who you wanted me to meet?" My eyes were had a light of amusement in them.

"Yes she is. She trained with me at the monastery in the Himalayan Mountains." Esparonza got up and side-hugged Maya who tensed, then relaxed.